PM: I’d rather be dead in a ditch than delay Brexit
The Prime Minister has said he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than delay Brexit – shortly before a police officer appeared to faint behind him.
Boris Johnson, who gave his speech more than an hour later than planned, told assembled journalists in Yorkshire that an extension would cost £1bn a month and be “totally pointless”.
Johnson said he “hates banging on about Brexit”, adding: “I don’t want an election at all … But frankly I don’t see any other way.”
“We must, must, must settle this EU debate,” the Prime Minister said.
Johnson also answered questions about the resignation today of his younger brother Jo, praising him for having done “fantastic work” as MP for Orpington and in his ministerial roles.
But the delayed, somewhat rambling speech – which had been set up to mark the launch of the national campaign to recruit 20,000 police officers over the next three years – came to an abrupt end when one trainee apparently become ill.
“I’m so sorry,” he said to the woman. “That is a signal for me to wind up.”
But Labour MPs have seized on the moment. Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committe said it was “completely unacceptable to use them in this way”.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott slammed it as “a really crude abuse of political power”.
Main image: Getty